Read:
James
5:13-20
My parents were married on March 13, 1942 when my Dad
was drafted into the armed services during World War II, he was age 20 and my
Mom was 17. These two did life together,
the ups and downs, through thick and thin for 71 years. They truly became one flesh.
In October of 2017, my Mother drew
her last breath at the age of 91. She had survived 3 long years after the death of my Dad.
The last 3 years of her life was like watching half a person trying to live. I
would talk to her nearly every day on the phone. She would often tell me all about her aches
and pains, her loneliness and how much she missed my Dad.
She would say, “I keep praying that
God will take me home! I’m not sure why
He isn’t listening and why I am still here.”
She prayed earnestly, sometimes desperately, feeling like all hope was
gone. Sometimes she would even doubt if
God still wanted her.
I would respond, “God still has you
here for a reason. We don’t always know
what those reasons are. Maybe it is
something He needs to show us, your children.”
I prayed for her. My siblings were all praying for her. When her pastor would come visit, she would
say, “You know how I want you to pray.” And he would pray for her too!
God finally granted her prayer that
morning in October of 2017 when He peacefully took her home. This weak, frail woman stricken with
diabetes, failing eyesight, painful arthritis, swelling legs, a failing mind
and a lonely heart finally fell into the arms of Jesus at last.
As frail as she was, my Mom's prayers and our prayers were
POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE!! Despite her occasional
doubts, Jesus dressed her in His robe of righteousness that was bought with His innocent blood.
This past week, my oldest sister,
Gail, has been caring for a friend who is critically ill. While Gail was comforting her friend’s
daughter, many of the compassionate words Gail shared with her had come straight from experiencing my Mom's struggles the last few years of her life. God is so good!! He is even still, after her death, answering my
Mom’s underlying prayer of why! He was
indeed teaching us, her children, things that would comfort others.
Dear Lord Jesus, when I feel weak
and frail, help me not be too proud or ashamed to reach out and ask for
help. Help me see that You are supplying
all I need even when I am desperately feeling lonely, lost and without
hope. Help me reach out to those around
me who can also pray for me. And give me
the confident hope that You WILL powerfully and effectively answer my prayers
far beyond all I can ask or imagine.
